Former President Jimmy Carter has been awarded a posthumous Grammy Award for “Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration,” a collection of recordings from his final Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church in Georgia, The Associated Press reports.
The award, presented at the 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony, marks Carter’s fourth career Grammy, all in the spoken word category.
Carter, who passed away in December at the age of 100, was nominated in the audio book, narration, and storytelling recording category alongside prominent figures such as Barbra Streisand, George Clinton, Dolly Parton, and producer Guy Oldfield. The album features musical contributions from Darius Rucker, Lee Ann Rimes, and Jon Batiste.
The Grammy win comes as a bittersweet moment for the Carter family and his admirers. Had he won before his passing, Carter would have become the oldest Grammy winner in history, surpassing 97-year-old Pinetop Perkins, who won in 2011.
Jason Carter, Jimmy Carter’s grandson and chair of The Carter Center governing board, accepted the award on his grandfather’s behalf. In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude.
The win denied a potential Grammy comeback for Barbra Streisand, who last won a Grammy 38 years ago.
Backstage, Jason Carter emphasized his grandfather’s deep appreciation for music.
The late president’s legacy now includes four Grammy Awards, all for spoken word albums, placing him among a select group of political figures who have been honored by the Recording Academy. Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton each have two Grammys, and former First Ladies Michelle Obama and Hilary Clinton have each won one. Former Presidents Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon were previously nominated, but did not win.
